A vehicle speed sensor failure detection apparatus for an electronic control system having a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information includes a vehicle behavior detection portion, a brake sensor and a failure detection portion. If vehicle speed information generated from the vehicle speed sensor is less than or equal to a vehicle speed reference level stored in the failure detection portion, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined period of time has a portion exceeding the behavior reference level stored in the failure detection portion and the brake is in the OFF state, the failure detection portion generates a failure signal.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A vehicle speed sensor failure detection apparatus for an electronic control system which has a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of a vehicle and generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information, comprising: a vehicle behavior detection portion for detecting a behavior of the vehicle and generating a vehicle behavior information signal indicating vehicle behavior information by using at least one of signals generated from a vertical acceleration sensor, a horizontal acceleration sensor, a steering angle sensor and a vehicle height sensor; a brake sensor for determining whether a brake of the vehicle is in an ON state or an OFF state and generating a brake state information signal indicating brake state information; and a failure detection portion for storing a vehicle speed reference level and a behavior reference level and receiving the vehicle speed information signal, the vehicle behavior information signal and the brake state information signal, wherein if the vehicle speed information is less than or equal to the vehicle speed reference level, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined period of time includes a filtered portion exceeding the behavior reference level and the brake is in the OFF state, the failure detection portion generates a failure signal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an engine running detection portion for determining whether an engine of the vehicle is in an ON state or an OFF state and generating an engine state information signal indicating engine state information, wherein if the vehicle speed information is less than or equal to the vehicle speed reference level, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during the predetermined period of time includes the filtered portion exceeding the behavior reference level, the brake is in the OFF state and the engine is in the ON state, the failure detection portion generates the failure signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control portion for stopping a control operation of the electronic control system when the failure signal is generated, the control operation of the electronic control system using the vehicle speed information.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the control portion includes a counter for counting the number of occurrence times of the failure signal, and generating a warning signal if the number of occurrence times of the failure signal is greater than a predetermined number of times.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a display portion for displaying the warning signal generated from the counter of the control portion.
6. A vehicle speed sensor failure detection apparatus for an electronic control system which has a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of a vehicle and generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information, comprising: a vehicle behavior detection portion for detecting a behavior of the vehicle and generating a vehicle behavior information signal indicating vehicle behavior information by using at least one of signals generated from a vertical acceleration sensor, a horizontal acceleration sensor, a steering angle sensor and a vehicle height sensor; a brake sensor for determining whether a brake of the vehicle is in an ON state or an OFF state and generating a brake state information signal indicating brake state information; and a failure detection portion for storing a vehicle speed change rate reference level and a behavior reference level, receiving the vehicle speed information signal, the vehicle behavior information signal and the brake state information signal, and calculating a change rate of the vehicle speed information, wherein if the change rate of the vehicle speed information generated during a predetermined first period of time is less than or equal to the vehicle speed change rate reference level, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined second period of time includes a filtered portion exceeding the behavior reference level, and the brake is in the OFF state, the failure detection portion generates a failure signal.
7. A vehicle speed sensor failure detection method for an electronic control system which stores a vehicle speed reference level and a behavior reference level, comprising the steps of: detecting a vehicle speed of a vehicle and generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information; detecting a behavior of the vehicle and generating a vehicle behavior information signal indicating vehicle behavior information by using at least one of signals generated from a vertical acceleration sensor, a horizontal acceleration sensor, a steering angle sensor and a vehicle height sensor; determining whether a brake of the vehicle is in an ON state or an OFF state, and generating a brake state information signal indicating brake state information; generating a failure signal, if the vehicle speed information is less than or equal to the vehicle speed reference level, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined period of time includes a portion exceeding the behavior reference level, and the brake is in the OFF state; and stopping a control operation of the electronic control system in response to the failure signal, the control operation of the electronic control system using the vehicle speed information.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle behavior information signal is generated by using at least one of signals generated from a vertical acceleration sensor, a horizontal acceleration sensor, a steering angle sensor and a vehicle height sensor.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of determining whether an engine of the vehicle is in an ON state or an OFF state and generating an engine state information signal indicating engine state information, wherein if the vehicle speed information is less than or equal to the vehicle speed reference level, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during the predetermined period of time includes the filtered portion exceeding the behavior reference level, the brake is in the OFF state and the engine is in the ON state, the failure signal is generated.
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November 4, 2004
June 6, 2006
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